Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1 Review

The savior of the universe finds a new home at Dynamite.

Given how many pulp heroes Dynamite has snatched up the rights for in recent years, it's really not surprising to see Flash Gordon make the jump. And while Flash is certainly no stranger to comics, he looks to have found a good home. Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist is crammed full of pulpy goodness along with just the right dash of modern enhancements to the characters.

It's clear from the start that Alex Ross and Eric Trautmann aren't setting out to reinvent the wheel with this book. The basic plot of issue #1 closely follows the traditional origin story fans will know from the original comic strip or the movie. The writers even insert Ming's right-hand man Klytus into the comic mythology with an opening that closely mirrors the film. By the end of the issue, Earth is facing imminent destruction courtesy of Ming the Merciless, and Flash, Dale, and Dr. Zarkov are swept up into a larger world of pulpy sci-fi adventure.

It wouldn't necessarily matter that the framework is so similar, as Trautman's script is well-written and featuring finely tuned dialogue that toes the line between serious drama and pulp. But he and Ross also make a number of modifications and additions that add a lot to the overall package. The three main heroes are subtly altered, with Zarkov being most noticeably changed to be more unhinged and violent. The writers include a number of new characters who leave an impression despite their brief presence. Between this and the focus on Hitler as a new antagonist, this series seems in little danger of failing to make a name for itself.

The art shows some influence from Ross, particularly in terms of character design and the dynamic way figures are framed. Daniel Lindro's pencils are generally pretty competent. The problem is that Slamet Mujiono's colors are too heavy and constantly threaten to overpower the pencils.

You really can't expect much for a dollar these days, but Zeitgeist delivers nonetheless. This is a promising start to Dynamite's latest attempt to revive a classic comic icon.